Massive Fire at Abhigyan Marriage Hall in Agartala Sparks Safety Concerns, Major Disaster Narrowly Averted
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, December 26, 2025
Panic and chaos gripped the Shibnagar College Road area of Agartala on Thursday after a massive fire broke out at Abhigyan Marriage Hall, one of the prominent event venues in the locality. Thick plumes of smoke rising high into the sky were visible from far-off areas, triggering fear among residents and severely disrupting traffic movement in the densely populated zone.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread rapidly inside the premises, allegedly fuelled by highly inflammable decorative materials and a possible electrical overload. The situation could have turned catastrophic, as the marriage hall has the capacity to accommodate more than 1,000 guests during peak wedding events. Fortunately, the timely alert to Fire and Emergency Services and swift intervene by the locals.
Surprisingly the marriage hall authorities not allowed deployment of multiple fire tenders who have went there for help.
Local sources confirmed that no loss of life was reported till the filing of this report. However, several people suffered from shock and panic during evacuation.
The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the alarming lack of fire safety measures in many marriage halls across the city. Local residents and civic activists alleged that Abhigyan Marriage Hall was operating without valid fire safety clearance and proper permission from the Agartala Municipal Corporation, though an official confirmation from authorities is still awaited.
Beyond fire safety, the issue of inadequate parking facilities and severe traffic congestion caused by marriage halls has resurfaced strongly. Residents pointed out that most marriage halls in Agartala lack designated parking spaces, forcing vehicles to occupy main roads during events. This routinely results in massive traffic jams and disruption of normal vehicular movement, particularly in areas such as North Gate, Ker Chowmuhani, and Melarmath, where multiple marriage halls operate in close proximity.
The fire has also sparked political controversy, with opposition leaders alleging that the marriage hall owner enjoys proximity to the ruling party, raising questions about whether regulatory violations were ignored or enforcement diluted. No official response has yet been issued by the marriage hall management or political authorities regarding these allegations.
Angry residents are now demanding a comprehensive audit of all marriage halls in the city, strict enforcement of fire safety norms, and immediate action against establishments operating without mandatory licenses. “If this fire had broken out during a large wedding ceremony, Agartala could have witnessed an unimaginable tragedy today,” said a local resident, echoing widespread public concern.
The near-miss at Abhigyan Marriage Hall has underscored the urgent need for accountability, stricter civic oversight, and robust safety compliance to prevent such incidents from turning into mass disasters in the future.
more news...